Neat little spot, industrial meets nature!…read more Came for a quick little looksie, of course the heat is a killer but seeing the falls & the short little walk around was lovely.

Ok, I'm going to give this place 5 stars because, technically, it is a cool place that not a lot of…read morepeople know about. It's actually a hydroelectric plant along the Arizona Canal. As we approached the building (you can't go in it), the smell hit us and I thought, oh no, I've made a huge mistake. I think I was just there on a bad day or something, because I didn't see many reviews mention the smell at all. What smell? Raw sewage, very sulphur- and trash-like. I mean, it STUNK. It was strongest at the top overlook, right next to the building. As we went down the staircase to the lower level, the smell began to dissipate and eventually, to my nose, disappeared altogether. On the lower level, we saw the waterfalls. You can walk under/behind two of them and there are "seats" made of stone blocks in front of the third. The water was flowing pretty hard the day we visited, so the seats and all the pavement was wet and there was a slight mist coming off the middle one. The overall place is like a mixture of industrial and environmental architechture. There are metal-looking columns holding up the upper deck, yet the waterfalls look like they were copied from Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, and there are large stones/rocks embedded into the walls everywhere. It sits on the edge of a small park with a decent sized lot and there are hiking paths. We only came for the falls, so I can't speak to the hike, but the area looked fairly nice. I'd like to see it at night as it looks pretty cool in pictures I've seen. If you're looking for something a little different to do or show your visitors from out of town, this is a neat place to go. Hopefully, the smell is a one off, but even if not, hold your breath and go down the stairs..... 13/2026

Sure, I love the LOVE sculpture in Old Town, and I've wondered about some of the statues around,…read morebut until today, when I finally explored the Soleri Bridge and Plaza, I didn't really give the art around my neighborhood much thought. But after venturing down to see the Soleri Bridge and Plaza, I was really impressed, and my experience even prompted me to do a little bit of research on where all of this art comes from. Here's what I found (on the Scottsdale Public Art facebook page): Scottsdale Public Art is a percent for art program of the City of Scottsdale, managed by the Scottsdale Cultural Council, a private nonprofit 501 (c)(3) agency that administers the arts and cultural affairs of the City, as well as the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Interesting, huh? I thought so... and from now on, I'm going to pay a lot more attention to the beautiful public art that surrounds me. Add that to my new year's resolution list! Happy new year, all!

While I am sure one could argue for or against the utility of the Soleri Bridge and Plaza, I will…read morefocus my review on the aesthetics of the structure. While I am not an expert in art or architecture, I really like this bridge. I went to the dedication a couple weeks ago and walked around amongst the throngs of spectators. I heard many comment on how the industrial, silver appearance doesn't really mesh with other old town architectural elements. And that is exactly what I like most about this bridge. It stands apart. It forces your eye to recognize the structure and wonder why it's there, who designed it, and maybe draw you there to walk across. Hopefully, the owners and developers of the surrounding properties will use this piece of public art to their advantage. I want to say to them..."We have built it, and people will come, now what are you going to do about it?" I have hope for the future of Old Town Scottsdale, and works like the Soleri Bridge reinforce that optimism.

Mill Avenue District has a large collection of funky business; some reminding people of the past…read more You'll find some unusual business such as Rave, a circus and performance art store. Shiny and sequined outfits, feathered boas, tools of the trade. Only one of many different businesses you will see. Plenty of food and drinks opportunities. Mill Avenue is also known for the large art festival held along 6 blocks on and off the street. Lots of metered street and lot parking.

So much fun and many places to visit. Beautiful murals too. Lovely coffee shops. I like the shoe…read moremill for Birkenstock and other leather shoes. Great festivals and block parties too. Recently saw Luke Bryan and Kane Brown at Innings Fest. Tempe is so good for entertainment. Walking the lake trail on both sides is gorgeous too. Jogging Mill ave is fun and don't forget the east side of Mill for additional restaurants and couple churches and donut shop- Voodoo donuts, and places to jog.

I don't know why there are so many bad reviews for this light parade and just wonder why people are…read moresuch bah humbugs out there! Its the holidays, lighten up a bit! I enjoyed seeing this Fantasy of Lights but also I didn't fight for a seat in the front row on Mill Ave or had to hand over my kidney for a parking spot. I can see why people were annoyed as parking anywhere near Mill Ave is usually a pain. My game plan was to get in an evening jog and at the same time see this parade and it worked out! I parked my car close to the Tempe Town Lake marina near the 100 mile Brewery and then jogged my way parallel to the lake and then jogged over the bridge to Mill Ave and voila...you're right in the smack dab of all the excitement! I walked when it was pretty crowded on the street and definitely there were a lot of people and then I made a U turn back onto the other side of Mill Ave at Unviersity. Mill Ave on the other side was less congested and I just jogged back to my car while also getting some good videos and pics of the parade. Overall, for me, I got two things done, was able to get in a 5K and see this cool parade! I might just now make this an annual tradition and just jog here to see this parade and avoid the hassle of parking and fighting for a prime viewing spot on Mill Ave.! I left happy, with my heart a little healthier and not annoyed with all the people! Its an all around win win situation!

Wow! Just miserable. What a waste of a holiday weekend. First had to park about a mile away in…read moreorder to get to event 2 hrs early. Then wait in line for 30 mins to $15 for a chicken and white rice bowl. Then try get a spot 15-20 people deep along the Tempe lake. Waited there 30 more minutes while show was to start and still didn't see a thing. Finally left to walk another mile back to try and find our car in the dark and fight traffic on the way out as others also ditched this waste of time. Tempe should not hold an event like this again. Even the MC of the event couldn't continue to appease the frustrated crowd! I would give event zero stars if I could.

I live in Scottsdale and recently ordered two boxes of StoneGrindz truffles on their website for…read morelocal delivery. My order was delivered free and dropped at my door with an icepack! The truffles are delicious! And incredibly (truly hard to believe) are both vegan and gluten-free! I honestly couldn't tell. I asked how long they last and was told "Best fresh within 3 weeks. Keeping them in fridge will prolong freshness as well. The truffles will be good for months if no nut butters are added, texture will only begin to be compromised." Great customer service from a local small biz. Both boxes have beautiful wrappers and would make such a nice gift if I didn't eat them all already :)

Simply excellent and sublime. Discovered at a farmer's market, I now seek out at AJ's during the…read moreweek!

Well I'm just writing to say I do not like the sausage crust. It gave me heartburn. I haven't tried…read moreanything else except maybe chicken wings. Close down.

Um I've been waiting to go here for so long because it's the ONLY place that has deep dish gluten…read morefree pizza. So I finally went with my boyfriend and it exceeded my expectations. The place itself is definitely casual but had some warmer mood lighting. Pretty empty on a Saturday night. Deep dish pizzas take over 30 minutes to come out, which is advertised on the menu so you know ahead of time. We both got the small cheese deep dish with butter crust, my boyfriend regular and me gluten free. Small is supposed to feed two people. Gluten free only comes in small. You can get regular in personal to large however. Definitely recommend going with the simple cheese, sometimes classic is the best way to go so you can appreciate the beauty of a pizza. Definitely also recommend going with the butter crust. My gosh, it had the perfect bite to it, both chewy and crispy. A little more rich but in the best ways possible. There was gobs of sauce, which I loooove. So fresh and bursting with savory flavor and could tell it was homemade with few ingredients (because you only need a few). The cheese pull was insane and also had a generous amount (and of course had to add more parm on top). I could only eat half and the leftovers tasted just as delicious the next day. My boyfriend basically finished his so know it's possible I gave a slice to my dad because I'm so nice and he very much enjoyed it and he's a harsh critic for gluten free pizza. I can't wait to go back. Note this is obviously a heavier dish but so worth it

2019 marked the 35th year of the My Nana's Best Tasting Salsa Challenge. An annual fundraiser that…read morebenefits the Arizona Hemophilia Association. I have attended the event 3 times, each at a different locations in the valley. The first time at Tempe Beach Park, then in Phoenix at Steele Indian School Park and now at Sloan Park in Mesa. This year was great because of the location. Sloan Park is the perfect venue for the festival. There is plenty of space, places to sit down, shade if you want it, and tons upon tons of salsa vendors with room to grow! Tickets are $15 dollars the the gate on the day of the event. I got tickets for just under $10 - thanks to Groupon. Salsa contestants can enter in three different categories - mild, hot, and "anything goes". So as an attendee you can expect to sample salsas ranging the spectrum: smoky chipotles, fruity ones featuring mango, pineapple, and even cranberry salsa, too. As well as, salsas that are so hot you'll swear your face could melt off - save those few for the bravest among your group. To enjoy all the salsa samplings, you get access to an unlimited supply for chips brought to you by friendly volunteers at the chip stations located throughout the event. I'd recommend bringing an extra $1 to purchase a tray for your chips and salsa. It'll be one of the best investments you'll make all day. I was too busy trying over 40 salsa vendors, but the event also offers a morning 5k Run, Margarita Mix-Off, Music Stage, and Kids Zone if you need even more activities to enjoy.

This sculpture was designed by Robert Indiana. It's one of dozens around the world. It's a popular…read moreplace for selfies, tourists and newly engaged couples to use as a background. It weighs 3,800 pounds and is 14 ft tall, 14 ft wide, and 6 ft deep. It is made of polychromed red and blue aluminum. Indiana originally designed LOVE as image on a Christmas card in the sixties. It was even used as an image on a US postage stamp in 1973. I simply like it for it's overall look and massive size. The Civic Center Park only reopened in January 2023 after being closed for a multi-million dollar remodel. I am glad it's back in a new permanent spot for the next 20 years. As a photo tip, consider taking a selfie from the reverse 'back' side. In most selfie modes on phones the image is reversed and the LOVE will be facing the right direction in your photo.

LOVE was designed by Robert Indiana during the Pop art movement in 1965 for a Christmas card. It…read morewas a symbol for peace during the Vietnam war. Now many sculptures are present all over the world, some in different languages. The original sculpture is in Indianapolis. I've always been fascinated with the LOVE art. I have seen quite a few of the sculptures in different places across the U.S. Scottsdale purchased theirs through the Scottsdale Public Art Program. It is made of poly-chromed red and blue aluminum and weighs 3,800 lbs. It's located in the Scottsdale Civic Center and was just recently relocated. It is pretty popular and makes for great photo shoots.

Cafe Boa in Tempe has that cozy, neighborhood Italian feel that makes it easy to settle in and stay…read moreawhile. We tried several pasta dishes and everything came out rich, fresh, and full of flavor. The creamy gnocchi with mushrooms and spinach was especially good, and the red sauce pasta had a nice depth without tasting overly heavy. Portions were generous, and the pasta itself held up well under the sauces instead of getting lost in them. The cocktail was also a standout and had a fun spicy, citrusy kick. Service was relaxed and friendly, and the whole meal felt more personal than polished in a good way. A solid Tempe spot when you want comforting Italian food without the chain restaurant feel.

I took my team of 18 to dinner here after a long day of training. The location is great, and the…read morestaff who checked us in and got us seated were wonderful. Most of the experience was positive, and our servers were friendly and accommodating. Unfortunately, there were several issues that ultimately led me to leave a 2-star review. First, one of the pasta dishes had a piece of wire/rubber-like material in it. The server handled the situation appropriately, acknowledged the issue, and took the dish back to the kitchen for a remake. The person who ordered it then had to wait approximately another 7 minutes while the rest of the table already had their food. We were very understanding about the situation, especially since mistakes can happen. Second, a side salad that was ordered did not arrive until after the entrees had been served. At that point, it was too late for the guest to reasonably enjoy it, so we asked the server to take it back. The bigger disappointment came when I reviewed the bill. I was charged for two glasses of wine but only received one. I suspect this may have happened because I asked about the wine twice after waiting quite a while for it, but regardless of how it happened, I was charged for something that was never served. The pasta dish containing the foreign object was also still charged on the bill, as was the salad that had been taken back because it arrived too late. With a party of 18, I wasn't going to go around the table asking every team member exactly what they ordered or received just to reconcile the bill. I trusted that the final bill would accurately reflect what was actually served. It was also very clear that this was a business dinner with a large group. I don't want to assume that the billing errors were intentional or that anyone thought we wouldn't notice the additional charges. Regardless of how they happened, the charges were incorrect and should have been caught before the bill was presented. That's ultimately what was most disappointing. We were very understanding about the mistakes during the meal, and I would have expected the same level of attention to carry through when the bill was prepared. A dish containing a foreign object, a salad that was returned, and a glass of wine that was never received should not all remain on the final bill. For a large group, especially one spending a significant amount on a business dinner, I expect the final bill to be reviewed carefully and to accurately reflect what was actually served. Unfortunately, because of the combination of the food issue and the billing errors, I would not bring another large group here. I'm also doubtful that I would return personally. The location and staff were great, which is why I'm disappointed that the experience ended this way.